Stan Brakhage is one of the most influential filmmakers in American avant-garde cinema, noted for his unflinching social commentaries and technical innovations. Over his nearly 40-year career, he has made over 200 films of varying length. He made his first film, Interim (1952) at age 18 after dropping out of college. Brakhage films seek to change the way we see. They encourage viewers to eschew traditional narrative structure in favor of pure visual perception that is not reliant on naming what is seen; rather his goal is to create a more visceral visual experience, for he believes that a "stream-of visual-consciousness could be nothing less than the pathway of the soul." To this end, his films are shot in highly sensual colors and utilize minimal soundtracks.
His work can be divided into distinct periods. His first short films explored the properties and possibilities of light. In many of his experimental ventures, Brakhage has forgone traditional cinematography in favor of working directly with the film stock itself. He has occasionally painted, inked, scratched and dyed images onto it; he has also tried pasting organic objects on the film. His most famous example is the 1963 short Mothlight in which he glued moth wings onto the stock. Some of his early films were based on his most intimate experiences that included making love to his new bride--depicted on negative film--in Wedlock House: An Intercourse (1959), and an attempt to bring his dead dog back to life with a camera in Sirius Remembered (1959). During the 1960s, Brakhage's iconoclastic views were celebrated for their poetry, but during the '70s, his focus changed to social issues and he alienated many supporters with such disturbing film series as the "Pittsburgh documents" in which he presented many gruesome views of inner city life with films such as Act of Seeing with One's Own Eyes (1971) which was shot in a morgue. He also continued with autobiographical material with the "Sincerity/Duplicity series. During the 1980s, Brakhage's focus again changed--this time he became intrigued with creating truly "abstract" films such as Arabics (1982) which consists of brilliant bursts of colored light which he claims, represent "envisioned music." In addition to filmmaking, Brakhage also wrote books about films and filmmaking and also served as a teacher. ~ Sandra Brennan
CHINESE SERIES
2003 / 35mm / color / silent / single screen / 2' 20 / 25 € distribution: 16mm |
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DARK NIGHT OF THE SOUL
2002 / 16mm / color / silent / single screen / 3' 00 / 22 € distribution: 16mm |
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SONG OF THE MUSHROOM
2002 / 16mm / color / silent / single screen / 2' 00 / 20 € distribution: 16mm |
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LOVESONG
2001 / 16mm / color / silent / single screen / 11' 00 / 39 € distribution: 16mm |
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LOVESONG 2
2001 / 16mm / color / silent / single screen / 3' 00 / 22 € distribution: 16mm |
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BIRDS OF PARADISE
1999 / 16mm / color / silent / single screen / 2' 22 / 21 € distribution: 16mm |
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CRICKET REQUIEM
1999 / 16mm / color / silent / single screen / 3' 00 / 25 € distribution: 16mm |
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THE EARTH SONG OF THE CRICKET
1999 / 16mm / color / silent / single screen / 3' 00 / 25 € distribution: 16mm |
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THE LION AND THE ZEBRA MAKE GOD'S RAW JEWELS
1999 / 16mm / color / silent / single screen / 5' 30 / 28 € distribution: 16mm |
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(...) OR ELLIPSES - # 3
1998 / 16mm / color / silent / single screen / 15' 00 / 50 € distribution: 16mm |
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(...) OR ELLIPSES - # 4
1998 / 16mm / color / silent / single screen / 20' 00 / 67 € distribution: 16mm |
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(...) OR ELLIPSES - # 5
1998 / 16mm / color / sound / single screen / 15' 00 / 50 € distribution: 16mm |
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(...) OR ELLIPSES - # 1 - # 2
1998 / 16mm / color / silent / single screen / 38' 00 / 128 € distribution: 16mm |
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COMMINGLED CONTAINERS
1996 / 16mm / color / silent / single screen / 4' 00 / 26 € distribution: 16mm |
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THE LOST FILMS
1996 / color / silent / single screen / 55' 00 / 184 € distribution: 16mm |
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SHOCKINGLY HOT
1996 / color / silent / single screen / 4' 00 / 26 € distribution: 16mm |
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I . . .
1995 / color / silent / single screen / 26' 00 / 102 € distribution: 16mm |
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BLACK ICE
1994 / color / silent / single screen / 2' 30 / 23 € distribution: 16mm |
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CANNOT EXIST
1994 / color / silent / single screen / 2' 30 / 23 € distribution: 16mm |
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CANNOT NOT EXIST
1994 / color / silent / single screen / 10' 00 / 40 € distribution: 16mm |
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CHARTRES SERIES
1994 / color / silent / single screen / 9' 00 / 41 € distribution: 16mm |
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ELEMENTARY PHRASES
1994 / 16mm / color / silent / single screen / 35' 00 / 118 € distribution: 16mm |
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NAUGHTS
1994 / 16mm / color / silent / single screen / 5' 30 / 28 € distribution: 16mm |
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AUTUMNAL
1993 / color / silent / single screen / 5' 00 / 28 € distribution: 16mm |
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EPHEMERAL SOLIDITY
1993 / color / silent / single screen / 5' 00 / 28 € distribution: 16mm |
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THE HARROWING - TRYST HAUNT
1993 / color / silent / single screen / 5' 00 / 28 € distribution: 16mm |
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STELLAR
1993 / color / silent / single screen / 2' 30 / 25 € distribution: 16mm |
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STUDY IN COLOR AND BLACK AND WHITE
1993 / color / silent / single screen / 1' 36 / 21 € distribution: 16mm |
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THREE HOMERICS
1993 / color / silent / single screen / 6' 00 / 28 € distribution: 16mm |
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CRACK GLASS EULOGY
1992 / 16mm / color / sound / single screen / 7' 00 / 32 € distribution: 16mm |
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UNTITLED (FOR MARILYN)
1992 / 16mm / color / silent / single screen / 11' 00 / 48 € distribution: 16mm |
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A CHILDS GARDEN AND THE SERIOUS SEA
1991 / 16mm / color / silent / single screen / 73' 00 / 233 € distribution: 16mm |
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CHRIST MASS SEX DANCE
1991 / color / sound / single screen / 6' 00 / 42 € distribution: 16mm |
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DELICACIES OF MOLTEN HORROR SYNAPSE
1991 / color / silent / single screen / 10' 00 / 40 € distribution: 16mm |
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PASSAGE THROUGH A RITUAL
1990 / 16mm / color / sound / single screen / 48' 00 / 161 € distribution: 16mm |
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VISION OF THE FIRE TREE
1990 / 16mm / color / silent / single screen / 5' 00 / 28 € distribution: 16mm |
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THE DANTE QUARTET
1987 / 16mm & 35mm / color / silent / single screen / 6' 30 / 42 € distribution: 16mm |
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KINDERING
1987 / 16mm / color / sound / single screen / 2' 52 / 24 € distribution: 16mm |
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THE LOOM
1986 / 16mm / color / silent / single screen / 42' 29 / 163 € distribution: 16mm |
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LOUD VISUAL NOISES
1986 / 16mm / color / sound / 2' 30 / 22 € distribution: 16mm |
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NIGHT MUSIC
1986 / color / silent / single screen / 0' 30 / 23 € distribution: 16mm |
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JANE
1985 / color / silent / single screen / 13' 00 / 50 € distribution: 16mm |
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ARABIC NUMERALS : 16
1981 / color / silent / single screen / 6' 30 / 28 € distribution: 16mm |
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THE GARDEN OF EARTHLY DELIGHTS
1981 / 16mm / color / silent / single screen / 1' 50 / 25 € distribution: 16mm |
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MURDER PSALM
1981 / color / silent / single screen / 17' 00 / 67 € distribution: 16mm |
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MADE MANIFEST
1980 / 16mm / color / silent / single screen / 11' 00 / 48 € distribution: 16mm |
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CREATION
1979 / color / silent / single screen / 16' 00 / 54 € distribution: 16mm |
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BURIAL PATH
1978 / 16mm / color / silent / single screen / 11' 00 / 43 € distribution: 16mm |
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DOMINION
1974 / color / silent / single screen / 4' 00 / 26 € distribution: 16mm |
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STAR GARDEN
1974 / 16mm / color / silent / single screen / 20' 00 / 85 € distribution: 16mm |
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THE STARS ARE BEAUTIFUL
1974 / 16mm / color / sound / single screen / 18' 30 / 78 € distribution: 16mm |
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THE TEXT OF LIGHT
1974 / 16mm / color / silent / single screen / 70' 00 / 224 € distribution: 16mm |
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SEXUAL MEDITATION : OPEN FIELD
1973 / color / silent / single screen / 6' 00 / 28 € distribution: 16mm |
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EYE MYTH- EDUCATIONAL PRINT
1972 / color / silent / single screen / 2' 00 / 25 € distribution: 16mm |
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SEXUAL MEDITATIONS: OFFICE SUITE
1972 / 16mm / color / silent / single screen / 3' 30 / 26 € distribution: 16mm |
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THE WOLD-SHADOW
1972 / 16mm / color / silent / single screen / 2' 30 / 25 € distribution: 16mm |
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THE ACT OF SEEING WITH ONE'S OWN EYES
1971 / 16mm / color / silent / single screen / 32' 00 / 110 € distribution: 16mm |
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SEXUAL MEDITATIONS: MOTEL
1970 / 16mm / color / silent / single screen / 6' 00 / 28 € distribution: 16mm |
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THE HORSEMAN WOMAN AND THE MOTH
1968 / 16mm / color / silent / single screen / 19' 00 / 66 € distribution: 16mm |
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MY MOUNTAIN, SONG 27
1968 / color / silent / single screen / 17' 23 / 86 € distribution: 16mm |
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SCENES FROM UNDER CHILDHOOD, PART I
1967 / 16mm / color / sound / single screen / 24' 00 / 88 € distribution: 16mm |
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SONG 26
1967 / color / silent / single screen / 7' 00 / 32 € distribution: 16mm |
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SONG 16
1966 / color / silent / single screen / 7' 30 / 35 € distribution: 16mm |
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SONGS 17 - 18 - 19 - 20
1966 / color / silent / single screen / 18' 00 / 70 € distribution: 16mm |
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FIRE OF WATERS
1965 / b&w / sound / single screen / 7' 00 / 32 € distribution: 16mm |
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DOG STAR MAN : PART III
1964 / color / silent / single screen / 7' 30 / 35 € distribution: 16mm |
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DOG STAR MAN : PART IV
1964 / color / silent / single screen / 6' 00 / 28 € distribution: 16mm |
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DOG STAR MAN : PART II
1963 / color / silent / single screen / 5' 30 / 28 € distribution: 16mm |
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MOTHLIGHT
1963 / color / silent / single screen / 4' 00 / 26 € distribution: 16mm |
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DOG STAR MAN : PART I
1962 / color / silent / single screen / 30' 00 / 118 € distribution: 16mm |
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DOG STAR MAN : PRELUDE
1961 / color / silent / single screen / 25' 00 / 98 € distribution: 16mm |
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THIGH LINE LYRE TRIANGULAR
1961 / 16mm / color / silent / single screen / 9' 00 / 41 € distribution: 16mm |
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THE DEAD
1960 / 16mm / color / silent / single screen / 11' 00 / 49 € distribution: 16mm |
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SIRIUS REMEMBERED
1959 / 16mm / color / silent / single screen / 11' 00 / 39 € distribution: 16mm |
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WINDOW WATER BABY MOVING
1959 / color / silent / single screen / 12' 00 / 54 € distribution: 16mm |
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ANTICIPATION OF THE NIGHT
1958 / 16mm / color / silent / single screen / 41' 00 / 122 € distribution: 16mm |
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REFLECTIONS ON BLACK
1955 / b&w / sound / single screen / 12' 00 / 54 € distribution: 16mm |
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THE WAY TO SHADOW GARDEN
1955 / 16mm / b&w / sound / single screen / 10' 00 / 45 € distribution: 16mm |
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THE WONDER RING
1955 / color / silent / single screen / 4' 00 / 26 € distribution: 16mm |
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DESISTFILM
1954 / 16mm / b&w / sound / single screen / 6' 48 / 34 € distribution: 16mm |